West Newton Church Clock appeal

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attend morning service at the Church of St Peter and St Paul, West Newton on Sunday. Choristers from the Sandringham Church Choir (aged 8 - 12) with their Director of Music Claire Stewart. ENGANL00120140302091316

An appeal has been launched to raise £10,000 to restore a West Newton church clock.

St Peter and St Paul’s Church clock is currently wound weekly by villager Richard Ward who climbs a 40ft ladder but now there are plans to install an automatic winder.

The four faces of the clock are also in need of painting and regilding.

Church wardens Margery Hooke and Jayne Windsor have launched an appeal to renovate the clock, which stands in the 14th century church tower.

The campaign has got off to a great start with £2,000 being raised thanks to a donation from the funeral service of Ion Trewin, a passionate clock restorer and member of St Mary’s Church in Sandringham. Donations have also been given by Friends of West Newton and Sandringham School along with Sandringham Women’s Institute.

The clock was installed in the tower in 1907 in memory of a former rector, the Rev Canon Frederick Hervey.

A series of events are planned over the coming months which will help to top up the appeal fund.

A prize bingo will be held at the end of October with a Christmas fair on December 5.

There are plans to hold a musical evening, spring fair and open gardens event during 2016.

Mrs Windsor said: “It’s a piece of history. The clock has been telling us the time for over 100 years so it deserves to be cared for and looked after.”